They are known as the Guerreras Fénix (Phoenix Warriors). In Umán, Yucatán, a group of women motorcycle taxi drivers, (vehicles also known as moto-taxis), in addition to contributing to the family economy, also contribute their grain of sand in caring for the planet. The women converted their vehicles’ engines from gasoline to electric.
“Through a study that we did on a motorcycle that they brought to us, they see us nationwide. At the UN they contact us and talk to us and tell us about the projects they carry out for the environment and we decided to implement this idea that we had for years and that had not been possible, which is the conversion of a gasoline unit to electric,” says Verónica Ocaña, general secretary of Guerreras Fénix.
The Model University provided them with a prototype of an electric motor, which caught the attention of the UN and allowed them to access the Global Environment Fund, implemented by the United Nations Development Program.
“The idea is that in the future this will cover everything that the association is and if it can expand to more places, even better. We are in a time in which it is very necessary to be able to help the planet, with the climate change that we are experiencing, simply the heat that we are having right now, and well, through this conversion it helps to greatly reduce everything that is pollution “, says Penélope Veloz, partner at Guerreras Fénix.
These warrior women, in addition to bringing a change of consciousness to the world, have also broken stereotypes, because as moto-taxi drivers they are the first women who were grouped to claim a workspace, which until not long ago was only occupied by men. The goal is to achieve the resources so that, in the medium term, all units are 100% electric, a transition that allows them to work up to 12 continuous hours with a single unit.
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